9-5-2 Our Obligation To Observe The Sabbath
Mr. Philip Bartlett:
Summary
In conclusion I would like to briefly repeat the clear scriptural proofs which make it absolutely certain that the Sabbath must be kept today. First of all it is commanded in the law of God (Exodus 20:8-11). Second of all Jesus Christ said that we are to observe even the least of the commandments of the law of God in the New Covenant just as in the Old (Matthew 5:17-20). It is sure that the Sabbath commandment was not a least commandment but was written by the finger of God Himself and was a day sanctified long before the Ten Commandments were given (Genesis 2:4). Given that Christ is our more perfect sacrifice, circumcision, feast day, and ceremonial Sabbaths of rest (Leviticus 23) we now observe these particular things in a superior way and are no longer under the wall of partition and the commandments contained in ordinances but we obey these particular things in a new and more fulfilled way (Ephesians 2:11-18, Colossians 2:13-17, Romans 14, Matthew 5:17). We also know that we do not observe the entire law of Moses for salvation (Acts 15:1) which is by faith alone, but rather we observe it for sanctification as the evidential mark of being God’s spiritual people (Matthew 5:17-20, 1 John 5:3, Romans 3:31, Matthew 7:21-23, Romans 12:9-21, Rev 22:15, Rev 22:14, Rev 14:12).
As stated earlier, the Sabbath is one of these commandments of God that mark the saints. It is called by God in the Old Testament “My Holy Day” or the “Lord’s Day” (Isaiah 58:13). On this day God’s pleasure was to be done only. In other words it is the day that belongs to the Lord (Isaiah 58:13-14). The Sabbath was to be a day of holy convocation (gathering together), worship, reading of the law, and rest (Isaiah 66:23, Exodus 20:8-11). The fact that John is observing this “Lord’s day” in Revelation is proof that this day is continuing to be observed (Revelation 1:10) by the church. In addition this is demonstrated to be the first day of the week in the new covenant by evidence that the apostles are gathering together to break bread with Jesus or with the Holy Spirit (ie with God) over consecutive Sundays and worshipping (John 20:19-26, Acts 2:1, Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 16:1-2). In addition Christ states that the Sabbath is made for mankind, not simply for ethnic Jews (Mk 2:27). Christ tells us specific things that can and cannot be done on the Sabbath like healing/charity (Mt 12:11-12). Finally the scriptures tell us that we are commanded to meet together (Hebrews 10:25). All of this combined is proof that it is a perpetual and moral obligation to observe one day in seven (the first day of the week) as the Sabbath day.
